New Map - Plutonium Fields

[KaiserJ]

Hi everyone! this is the second "completed" map i've ever made that i felt was worth releasing for people to try (i find myself lurking on these forums requesting things a lot, time to give something back)

12x12 size. there's piles of M, in BA the basic mexes give 1.9, wind is decent at 5-20. the ground is very hard, 200 hardness

the map is suitable for team games (i would say 5v5 is optimal, but some may find it cramped) as well as FFA (corners work for a 4 way, as well as 8 boxes around the outside for an 8 way)

here's the maplink :
http://spring.jobjol.nl/show_file.php?id=1575

and the minimap :


and some screens :

commander making a base

i'm the king of the world

the map is filled with spiked rocks that interfere with LOS and allow you to porc a bit more effectively to make a base. my testers, on initally peeking at the map, decided it was probably going to be a porcfest, but it turned out that the rocks blocked line of sight so effectively that raiding actually seemed more potent on this map than on a more conventional, "open" map. the generally short LOS in this map makes kbots viable, and there are a few "secret" areas that only kbots can climb up into.

now, this IS the alpha version of the map, the first release, so there are bound to be problems. here's a list of things i'd like to improve, constructive criticism is defenitely welcomed.

-i've noticed that 4 mex decals don't actually have any metal beneath them, this will be fixed
-the metal spots are very small, it may be difficult to see them on a metalmap view, this will likely be changed.
-start positions are not set, so use boxes (i'd love some input as to where they should be placed)
-metal spot decals looked a LOT nicer in the image editor
-the SMD file (ugh) i have no idea what i'm doing, the climate i'm using was thieved from folsom dam; there is no custom skybox, and the colors of the fog and sky and such do not match the map. could someone give me an idea of how i could improve the SMD, or recommend a nice skybox for me? (i was thinking something starry)
-water level is too high, big craters fill with puddles.
-how was my design? does it fail?

i'd love some input and criticism, or even if you liked the map just let me know and i'll continue along the same vien of map creation... leave me something though because i'm going to be changing this map for a re-release anyway.

map was created using macromedia fireworks and springmapedit.

[genblood]

Hi,

I like the concept of the map. There are tools for setting
the start locations and editing the SMD file. As always ...
screen shoots ...do help ....

Here is a screen shot of the util for setting start positions ...



This one is for editing the SMD file ... The util works, but it will
need dome fixing after using it ...



Here is another good utils for editing the height of a map that
has already been compiled ..




also, I did some tweeks for fun ... to your map ..
Just to show what can be added ...








The map is coming along good ... looking forward to the final release

[KaiserJ]

hey hey :D

thanks for tweaking and such and showing that there are utilities for the start positions etc, i've tried the SMD creator but wasn't too sure what i was doing; when i searched around on here for information about it, it seemed like the general consensus was that it was broken.

i really like what you've done with the fog, it's exactly what i was picturing in my mind when i made the map. if you don't object, i'd love to get a copy of that SMD to include in the final release and would defenitely give you 100% credit for creating the climate.

whats the name of the start boxes utility?

sometime this week i'll be re-texturing, i realized that the map becomes way too dark when you use the fog of war view, and the metal spots bother me more and more each time i look at them :D

thank you again sir for taking the time to respond to my post and fiddle with my map, makes me feel good that someone took some interest in something that i made.

[Hoi]

Hmm, I don't know what's wrong with it, but it doesnt look like terrain, maybe you could try using terrain generation programs, sorry, but it just doesn't look very natural.

The layout is pretty cool though.

[KaiserJ]

Hmm, I don't know what's wrong with it, but it doesnt look like terrain, maybe you could try using terrain generation programs, sorry, but it just doesn't look very natural.

The layout is pretty cool though.

heheh you know what, i can agree with you there; i doubt there's anywhere on our planet with strange pointy hills and crags like that, because gravity and erosion tend to smooth hills faster than they can rise into steep mountains...

so defenitely no offense taken.

perhaps these hills were formed by the unstable crust of the planet being shattered long ago at the start of the war between arm and core; shockwaves of explosions from across the galaxy blasted the happy little planet of plutonium fields so that great cracks opened in its surface and jets of superheated metals and gases sprayed upwards from beneath the ground only to be cooled by the frigid vacuum into the forms that we see before us today.

eh? eh? does that sit right with you? hahaha

ok ok i promise next map will be more realistic you'll be able to accept it without a ridiculous story lol

thanks for the kind words about the layout.

[genblood]

Hi,

Here is the link for the start position util ..

http://www.unknown-files.net/spring/fil ... on_Editor/

Also, here is the info I put into the SMD file

//Compiled by Maelstroms SMD Creator version 3.5
[MAP]
{
Description=Plutonium Fields by KaiserJ - v1. Suitable for large team matches and free-for-alls.;
TidalStrength=0;
Gravity=100;
MaxMetal=7.5;
ExtractorRadius=70;
MapHardness=500;

[ATMOSPHERE]
{
FogColor=0.82 0.3 0.32;
FogStart=0.6;
CloudColor=0.87 0.4 0;
SkyColor=0.83 0.23 0;
SunColor=1 0.27 0;
CloudDensity=0.45;
MinWind=5;
MaxWind=20;
}
[WATER]
{
WaterBaseColor=0 0 0;
WaterAbsorb=0 0 0;
WaterMinColor=0.1 0.1 0.3;
}
[LIGHT]
{
SunDir=0.368 0.236 -0.669;
GroundAmbiantColor=1 0.17 0.13;
GroundSunColor=0.75 0 0;
GroundShadowDensity=0.8;
UnitAmbiantColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitSunColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitShadowDensity=0.5;
SpecularSunColor=0.89 0.3 0;
}
[TERRAINTYPE0]
{
name=default;
hardness=1;
tankmovespeed=1;
kbotmovespeed=1;
hovermovespeed=1;
shipmovespeed=1;
}
[TEAM0]
{
StartPosX=946;
StartPosZ=553;
}
[TEAM1]
{
StartPosX=5272;
StartPosZ=5554;
}
[TEAM2]
{
StartPosX=5530;
StartPosZ=885;
}
[TEAM3]
{
StartPosX=651;
StartPosZ=5186;
}
}


Hope the info helps you out ... Looking forward to the
final version.

[genblood]

When using the Maelstroms SMD Creator you can load a SMD file
and make changes. The issue is when you save it ... it crashes
the util. What I due is change the file name before I save it. The
original file doesn't get change, but it does create a updated
version of the SMD file. Now you will need to edit out the messed
up start locations. Basically just cut out the player start positions
and add the info your self. Make sure the syntax is correct too .

Here is a example of a saved file after some changes ..

Unedited version:

//Compiled by Maelstroms SMD Creator version 3.5
[MAP]
{
Description=Plutonium Fields by KaiserJ - v1. Suitable for large team matches and free-for-alls.;
TidalStrength=0;
Gravity=100;
MaxMetal=7.5;
ExtractorRadius=70;
MapHardness=500;
[ATMOSPHERE]
{
FogColor=0.82 0.3 0.32;
FogStart=0.6;
CloudColor=0.87 0.4 0;
SkyColor=0.83 0.23 0;
SunColor=1 0.27 0;
CloudDensity=0.45;
MinWind=5;
MaxWind=20;
}
[WATER]
{
WaterBaseColor=0 0 0;
WaterAbsorb=0 0 0;
WaterMinColor=0.1 0.1 0.3;
}
[LIGHT]
{
SunDir=0.233 0.306 -0.654;
GroundAmbiantColor=1 0.17 0.13;
GroundSunColor=0.75 0 0;
GroundShadowDensity=0.8;
UnitAmbiantColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitSunColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitShadowDensity=0.5;
SpecularSunColor=0.89 0.3 0;
}
[TERRAINTYPE0]
{
name=default;
hardness=1;
tankmovespeed=1;
kbotmovespeed=1;
hovermovespeed=1;
shipmovespeed=1;
}
[TEAM0]
{
StartPosX=946;
StartPosZ=553;
}
[TEAM1]
{
StartPosX=5272;
StartPosZ=5554;
}
[TEAM2]
{
StartPosX=5530;
StartPosZ=885;
}
[TEAM3]
{
StartPosX=651;
StartPosZ=5186;
}
[TEAM4]
{
StartPosX=5;
StartPosZ=5;
}
[TEAM5]
{
StartPosX=6;
StartPosZ=6;
}
[TEAM6]
{
StartPosX=7;
StartPosZ=7;
}
[TEAM7]
{
StartPosX=8;
StartPosZ=8;
}
[TEAM8]
{
StartPosX=9;
StartPosZ=9;
}
[TEAM9]
{
StartPosX=10;
StartPosZ=10;
}
[TEAM10]
{
StartPosX=11;
StartPosZ=11;
}
[TEAM11]
{
StartPosX=12;
StartPosZ=12;
}
[TEAM12]
{
StartPosX=13;
StartPosZ=13;
}
[TEAM13]
{
StartPosX=14;
StartPosZ=14;
}
[TEAM14]
{
StartPosX=15;
StartPosZ=15;
}
[TEAM15]
{
StartPosX=16;
StartPosZ=16;
}
[TEAM16]
{

Here it is after I edit out the bad data :

//Compiled by Maelstroms SMD Creator version 3.5
[MAP]
{
Description=Plutonium Fields by KaiserJ - v1. Suitable for large team matches and free-for-alls.;
TidalStrength=0;
Gravity=100;
MaxMetal=7.5;
ExtractorRadius=70;
MapHardness=500;
[ATMOSPHERE]
{
FogColor=0.82 0.3 0.32;
FogStart=0.6;
CloudColor=0.87 0.4 0;
SkyColor=0.83 0.23 0;
SunColor=1 0.27 0;
CloudDensity=0.45;
MinWind=5;
MaxWind=20;
}
[WATER]
{
WaterBaseColor=0 0 0;
WaterAbsorb=0 0 0;
WaterMinColor=0.1 0.1 0.3;
}
[LIGHT]
{
SunDir=0.233 0.306 -0.654;
GroundAmbiantColor=1 0.17 0.13;
GroundSunColor=0.75 0 0;
GroundShadowDensity=0.8;
UnitAmbiantColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitSunColor=1 0.27 0;
UnitShadowDensity=0.5;
SpecularSunColor=0.89 0.3 0;
}
[TERRAINTYPE0]
{
name=default;
hardness=1;
tankmovespeed=1;
kbotmovespeed=1;
hovermovespeed=1;
shipmovespeed=1;
}
[TEAM0]
{
StartPosX=946;
StartPosZ=553;
}
[TEAM1]
{
StartPosX=5272;
StartPosZ=5554;
}
[TEAM2]
{
StartPosX=5530;
StartPosZ=885;
}
[TEAM3]
{
StartPosX=651;
StartPosZ=5186;
}
}

I hope this info helps you out.

[Das Bruce]

Gah my eyes!